Locking device for vacuum-cleaner handles



Jan. 6, 1931. A. c. M LAREN LOCKING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEKNER HANDLES Filed July 25, 1927 v 2'.,Sheets-Sheet l atbo'anuf Jan. 6, 1931. A. CQM LAREN LOCKING DE ICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER HANDLES Filed July 25, 1927 2 Sheets$heet 2 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEX C. MCLAREN, 013' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T EUREKA VACUUM CLEANER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN LOCKING DEVICE FOR VACUUM-CLEANER HANDLES Application ma July 25,

The invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the portable type and has for its main object the provision of an improved locking device for securely holding the handle in a predetermined position. Another object is to provide a projection fixed upon a casing of the vacuum cleaner for direct engagement with the handle to positively limit swinging movement of the latter. Further objects of the in- 1 vention reside in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a portion of a side elevation, artly broken away, of a vacuum cleaner emodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the vacuum cleaner with the handle in one position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the vacuum cleaner;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the portion of the locking device mounted upon the casing of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the vacuum cleaner with the handle in another position. The vacuum cleaner has the motor casing 1, the fan casing 2 and the suction tool 3,

which latter in the present instance is a suction nozzle directly secured to the fan casing.

This vacuum cleaner is suitably supported upon the wheels 4. I

v To move the vacuum cleaner over the floor, it is provided with the handle 5 which has the furcations 6 embracing the motor casing 1 and provided with the head 7 through which the pivot 8 extends into the motor casing. Ordinarily, the handle assumes various rotative positions relative to the vacuum cleaner, while the latter is being used. How- 4 ever, when the vacuum cleaner is not in use,

it is desirable to retain the handle in substantially vertical position or when the vac- 1 uum cleaner is being used in raised position it is desirable to retain the handle in substantially horizontal position.

To secure the handle in either of these positions, the head 7 of one of the furcations 6 of the handle has its end face formed with the upper and lower shoulders 9 and 10, respectively, the upper shoulder forming one edge 1927. Serial No. 208,378.

of the notch 11. The shoulders and notch are preferably formed in the wear plate 12, which is rigidly secured at the inner side of the head. I have also provided the cooperating locking device 13 which is mounted upon the annular flange 14; of the motor casing, this locking device having the rearwardly extending boss 15 in which is slidably mounted the detent or plunger 16 having its nose vertically rounded. The plunger is yieldably forced rearwardly by means of the coil spring 17 arranged within the boss and extending within the plunger and through the annular flange 14 and abutting at its front and rear ends the fan casing 2 and plunger, respectively. With this arrangement, both ends of the spring are guided. The plunger is furthermore held from rotative movement by being formed with a flat at its inner side engaging a corresponding flat in the boss. The notch 11 is so proportioned that when the handle is in substantially vertical position, as shown in Figure 1, the lower edge of the notch engages the plunger and the upper edge ofthe notch or the upper shoulder 9 engages the boss so that the handle is firmly secured from movement.

The lower shoulder 10 is so positioned that it also engages the boss when the handle is in substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figure 2, and positively limits any further downward swinging movement of the handle.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a casing and a projection and detent thereon, of a pivotal handle having a portion provided with a notch one edge of the notch being adapted to engage said projection when the other edge engages said detent.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a casing, a projection thereon and also a yieldable detent carried by said projection, of a pivotal handle having a wear. plate provided with a notch, one edge of the-notch being adapted to engage said projection when the other edge engages said detent.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a casing, a boss thereon and a spring pressed plunger slidable in said boss, of a pivotal .handle having a portion provided with a notch, one edgegof the=-notch .;being adapted to engage said boss when the other edge engages said plunger.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a fan casing and a motor casing having an annular flange secured to said fan casing, said annular flange being apertured, of a boss upon said annular flange and extending rearwardly therefrom, a plunger slidable in said boss, a coil spring extending through theaperture in said annular flange and'ab'utting said fan casing and plunger, and a handle pivotally connected to said motor casing and having a portion provided with a notch, one edge of the notch being adapted to engage said boss when the other edge engages sald plunger.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a handle pivotally mounted on said casing, a wear plate carried by said handle, said wear plate being provided with a pair of spaced notches and a shoulder adjacent each notch, a member yieldably mounted on 'the said casing for selective engagement with the said notches upon movement of the said handle, and a- -second member carried by the said casing adapted to be engaged by the said shoulders to limit movement of the handle, said members being so positioned that when the yieldably mounted memberis in engagement with one of the notches the second mentioned v member will engage the adjacent shoulder.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a projection formed on said casing, a handle pivotally mounted on said caslng and having spaced shoulders engageable with said projection to limit rotative movement of said handle about its pivot to a predetermined are,

said handle also having a notch adjacent each shoulder, and a member yieldably mounted on said casing and selectively engageable with said notches to yieldably retain said handle adjacent one or the other its arc of movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALEX c. MQLAREN.

of the limits of 

